Stay with me, my soulmate

The rain in London didn’t just fall; it mourned. It was a cold, relentless drizzle that soaked through Alex’s black suit, but he didn’t feel the chill. His heart had already turned to ice hours ago when they lowered the small, white casket into the dark earth. Maya. His little sister. His only family. She was only twenty. She was supposed to be finishing her degree, falling in love, and traveling the world. Instead, she was gone, driven to the edge of despair by a man who had promised her the stars but delivered only darkness. Alex stood by the grave long after the mourners had left. His fists were clenched so tight that his knuckles turned white. In his pocket, he held the suicide note—a crumpled piece of paper stained with Maya’s tears. “He lied to me, Alex. He said he loved me. He said we were going to be together forever. But he was just using me. He and his sister... they laughed at me. I can’t live with this shame.” The man’s name was Leo. And the sister who helped him destroy Maya’s spirit was Sarah. “I will find you,” Alex whispered, his voice like a blade. “And I will take from you what you took from me. Peace for peace. Soul for soul.” One Month Later... The sun was shining brightly in the small, sleepy town of Ooty, India. It was a world away from the cold rain of London. Angel hummed a soft Tamil tune as she watered the roses in her garden. At twenty-one, she was the town’s most beloved daughter. With her wide, innocent eyes and a smile that could melt the hardest heart, she lived in a world of books and dreams. She had never stepped out of her town, sheltered by her overprotective older brother, Sarah. “Angel! Someone is here to see the estate!” her brother Sarah called out from the porch. Angel wiped her hands on her apron and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She looked up and froze. Walking toward her was the most handsome man she had ever seen. He wore a charcoal-grey suit that screamed power and wealth. His hair was perfectly styled, and his jawline was sharp. But it was his eyes that caught her—they were deep, dark, and filled with a mysterious intensity. “Mr. Alex Thorne,” her brother introduced, his voice oily with greed. “He’s a billionaire from London looking to invest in our family lands.” Alex didn’t look at Sarah. He looked straight at Angel. For a second, his gaze softened, almost as if he were surprised by the sheer purity reflecting in her eyes. But then, the image of Maya’s cold, lifeless face flashed in his mind. This is her, Alex thought. The innocent sister. Sarah’s only weakness. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Angel,” Alex said, his voice a smooth baritone. He took her hand and kissed the back of it. Angel felt a jolt of electricity run up her arm. She blushed a deep crimson and looked down. “Welcome to our home, sir.” “Please,” he smiled, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Call me Alex.” Over the next few weeks, Alex became a permanent fixture in Angel’s life. He was the perfect gentleman. He brought her rare books, listened to her talk about her dreams of becoming a writer, and treated her like a queen. Angel was falling. Hard. She thought she had found her soulmate—the man from her stories. Sarah, blinded by the millions Alex was promising to invest, encouraged the romance. He didn't care that Alex was a stranger; he only cared about the gold at the end of the rainbow. One evening, under a canopy of stars on the balcony of the estate, Alex turned to Angel. “Angel,” he whispered, his hand caressing her cheek. “I’ve traveled the world, but I’ve never found anything as beautiful as you. I don’t want to go back to London alone.” Angel’s heart hammered against her ribs. “Alex... what are you saying?” He knelt on one knee, pulling out a diamond ring that sparkled even in the dim light. “Marry me. Come to London with me. Let me take care of you forever.” Tears of joy blurred Angel’s vision. She didn’t see the flicker of guilt in his eyes. She didn’t see the predator lurking behind the prince. “Yes,” she whispered. “A thousand times, yes.” The Wedding Day The wedding was the grandest Ooty had ever seen. Alex spared no expense. Angel looked like an angel indeed, draped in a white silk saree with gold embroidery. As they stood before the registrar, Angel felt like she was in a dream. She looked at her brother Sarah, who was beaming with pride, and then at her new husband. “I do,” she said, her voice clear and full of love. “I do,” Alex said, his voice cold and final. The ceremony ended. The guests cheered. Sarah hugged Alex, whispering about the business contracts they would sign next week. “Oh, don't worry, Sarah,” Alex said, a dark smirk finally touching his lips. “You’ll get exactly what you deserve.” The private jet was luxurious, but Angel felt a strange unease. Alex hadn't spoken to her since they left the wedding venue. He sat across from her, staring out of the window, his face a mask of stone. “Alex? Are you okay? You look tired,” Angel reached out to touch his hand. He pulled his hand away as if her touch burned him. “Don’t,” he snapped. Angel flinched. “I... I’m sorry. I just thought—” “Don’t think, Angel. Just sit there and be quiet,” he said, his voice cold. Angel’s heart sank. Where was the man who had wooed her with poetry? Where was the man who had promised to cherish her? By the time they reached his mansion in the outskirts of London, the sun had set. The house was a massive, gothic structure of black stone and glass. It looked like a prison. “Welcome home,” Alex said, dragging her out of the car. He didn't hold her hand; he gripped her wrist like a handcuff. He led her into the grand hallway. The lights were dim. He threw his coat onto a chair and turned to face her. “Why are we here, Alex? Where are the servants? Why is it so dark?” Angel asked, her voice trembling. Alex walked toward her, his shadow looming large over her small frame. He pulled a photograph from his pocket and threw it at her feet. It was a picture of a girl. Maya. “Do you know who that is?” he hissed. Angel picked it up, shaking. “No... who is she?” “That is my sister. Maya. The girl your brother destroyed. The girl who died because of your family’s filth.” Angel’s breath hitched. “What? My brother? Sarah? No... he wouldn't...” “He did,” Alex roared, grabbing her by the shoulders. “He and that woman Sarah—your precious brother—they broke her. And now, I am going to break you.” Angel’s world shattered. The man she loved was gone. In his place stood a monster. “Alex, please... I didn't know... I have nothing to do with this!” she sobbed, the tears ruining her bridal makeup. “That’s the point, Angel,” he whispered into her ear, his breath cold against her skin. “You are innocent. And that’s what makes this perfect. Your brother loves you, doesn't he? He’ll die every day knowing that you are in my hands. You aren't my wife, Angel. You are my prisoner. My soulmate? No. You are my revenge.” He pushed her toward the stairs. “Go to the room at the end of the hall. That’s your cage. Don’t expect a wedding night. Expect a nightmare.” Angel collapsed on the cold marble floor, her white saree spread around her like broken wings. She looked up at the man she had just sworn her life to, realizing that her life was now a living hell. “Stay with me, my soulmate,” he mocked her own words from a letter she had written him. “Oh, you’ll stay. But you’ll wish you were dead.”